Blitz in Bacchus Marsh

The Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has staged an ‘inspection blitz’ in the Bacchus Marsh area, checking 33 businesses for compliance.

The industrial precincts checked by EPA’s South West Region officers are of particular concern as their stormwater drain systems are directly connected to local waterways, which have economic, social, environmental, and cultural importance.

“We targeted industry sectors that included concrete batching plants, agricultural chemical distributors, motor vehicle and machinery servicing/repairs, chemical handling and a variety of other general industrial activities,” EPA South West Regional Manager, Carolyn Francis, said.

“In all we expect to issue eight notices and issued 35 compliance advisories, addressing issues like spill prevention infrastructure and procedures, emergency response procedures, management of stormwater and chemical storage.

“We are particularly concerned that chemicals are stored properly. We have seen too often the harm that can be done to the environment through the uncontrolled escape of chemicals.”

Ms Francis said waterways that storm drains feed into are “a vital amenity for our communities and must be protected by everyone, including industry”.

“The General Environmental Duty or GED requirements of the Environment Protection Act 2017 make it clear that it’s everyone’s job to act to protect the environment and EPA is working to generate a greater understanding of that responsibility,” she said.

“EPA wants to help businesses to understand that they must act to improve their onsite controls to prevent spills and pollution entering the environment. Where EPA identifies poor controls to prevent pollution, they can expect us to use our powers to enforce compliance.”

For more information on how to safely store and manage liquids, visit www.epa.vic.gov.au and search store-manage-liquids.